Cash For Appliances

You’ve heard about Cash for Clunkers, but you may not have heard about Cash For Appliances, another government-run rebate program that is geared toward saving your household money.

Backed by an initial $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the goal of the program is to help make American homes more energy-efficient while stimulating the economy. Some states already have a rebate program – in that case, federal money will supplement funds currently being distributed.

Rebates should range from $50 to $200 per appliance depending on the state and what you’re buying. The Department of Energy wants the cash focused on heating and cooling equipment, appliances, and water heaters, since these products offer the greatest energy savings potential.

Qualifying appliances that have earned the Energy Star rating from the DOE are eligible for rebates including: central air conditioners, heat pumps (air source and geothermal), boilers, furnaces (oil and gas), room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters.



More good news: You don’t need to trade in an old appliance to get a rebate on a new one. And in fact, your state may offer additional rebate money for recycling your used appliance.

If you are in the market for a new appliance, don’t hesitate. Many states have just kicked off their programs, but Kansas ran out of funds in ten days, handing out $2.6 million in rebates already! Starting this month, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have begun offering rebates. Stay tuned for other states joining the giveaway.

And speaking of the federal governments “Cash For…” programs, another one might be headed our way. The details of the plan aren’t finalized, but President Obama has called on Congress to “provide incentives for consumers who retrofit their homes to become more energy efficient”. If the plan (dubbed “Cash For Caulkers”) goes through, you could possibly earn a credit of up to $12,000 on the cost of labor and materials to weatherize your home. We’ll be tracking this rebate for you as well!